IBM Storage

Billions And Billions of Bytes

In the first half-century of data processing, the primary medium for storing information was the unglamorous but highly ubiquitous punched card.

Click to enlargeAn IBM punched card
In fact, during the first-half of the 20th century, punched cards were used for everything -- from simple record-keeping to complex scientific computations -- and by everyone -- from individual businesses to huge corporations, academic institutions and government agencies.

But since the 1940s, the basic tools for retaining data evolved away from the simple punched card into several new media -- such as, magnetic tape reels, tape cartridges, diskettes and disk files -- media that provided unprecedented and ever-expanding levels of storage capacity and speed.

Click to enlargeA magnetic disk
This exhibit highlights many of the events, developments and products -- especially high-end storage devices -- with which IBM technology totally transformed the way the world has dealt with the huge explosion of processed and stored information over the past half-century. And it gives you easy access to several key information sources about IBM storage products -- past and present.

We suggest you begin your visit to the exhibit with a quick stop in the reference room.